British and Irish Lions 2025 Australia Tour: Henry Pollock Selected, Owen Farrell and Sam Prendergast Omitted, Caelan Doris Injured

The British and Irish Lions announced their 38-man squad for the 2025 Australia tour, naming England's Maro Itoje as captain. The announcement at London's O2 Arena included notable selections like 20-year-old flanker Henry Pollock, while former England captain Owen Farrell and Ireland's Sam Prendergast were omitted. Ireland captain Caelan Doris is out due to a shoulder injury. Only two Welsh players, Tomos Williams and Jac Morgan, were selected, marking a historic low for Welsh representation. The tour includes a three-Test series against Australia, starting on 19 July in Brisbane.

Henry Pollock: The Youngest Lion

Henry Pollock’s inclusion in the squad has captured the imagination of fans and pundits alike. The 20-year-old Northampton Saints flanker, who only made his Premiership debut this season, was the standout bolter in head coach Andy Farrell’s selection. Pollock’s rapid ascent was punctuated by a barnstorming performance against Leinster in the Investec Champions Cup semi-final, which appears to have cemented his place in the squad.

Pollock, who scored two tries on his England debut against Wales in March, has been praised for his dynamic ball-carrying, breakdown tenacity, and infectious energy. Speaking at the squad announcement, Farrell said, “I like what I see. Like all top players, he is always trying to make a difference—there is an energy and bounce about him.”

His selection came at the expense of several experienced back-row options, including Scotland’s Jamie Ritchie, England’s Ben Curry, Toulouse-based Jack Willis, and Welsh veteran Taulupe Faletau.

Owen Farrell and Sam Prendergast Omitted

One of the most high-profile omissions is Owen Farrell, the 33-year-old former England captain and three-time Lions tourist. Despite returning to fitness with Racing 92 in France, Farrell was not included among the three fly-halves selected—Scotland’s Finn Russell and England’s Fin Smith and Marcus Smith were preferred.

Andy Farrell, who is also Owen’s father, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. “Owen was in the conversation, obviously. An experienced player like that, looking for his fourth tour and with his leadership qualities. But it got to a point, like with a few others, where he is still trying to find his way back to fitness.”

Farrell’s move to Racing 92 and his break from international rugby rendered him ineligible for England selection, further complicating his Lions candidacy. However, Andy Farrell left the door open for a potential late call-up, noting that the 38-man squad leaves room for additions if needed.

Ireland’s Sam Prendergast, widely regarded as the country’s top fly-half, was another surprise omission. Despite his strong form, he was overlooked in favour of the Smiths and Russell, a decision that raised eyebrows given Prendergast’s pivotal role in Ireland’s recent Six Nations campaigns.

Caelan Doris Ruled Out Through Injury

Ireland captain Caelan Doris, who was widely tipped as a leading contender for the Lions captaincy, has been ruled out of the tour due to a shoulder injury sustained during Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton. The injury required surgery, ending his hopes of a first Lions tour.

Doris had played in 44 of Ireland’s last 45 matches and had grown into a leadership role under Andy Farrell. His absence not only removes a key player from the back row but also influenced the captaincy decision, with Maro Itoje ultimately chosen to lead the squad.

“As you can imagine, he is devastated,” said Farrell. “He would definitely have been in the mix, such an experienced player and leader. Sport can be cruel sometimes, but Caelan will be back bigger and stronger.”

Welsh Representation at a Historic Low

Only two Welsh players—scrum-half Tomos Williams and flanker Jac Morgan—have been selected for the 2025 tour, marking the lowest Welsh representation in a Lions squad in the professional era. The omission of co-captain Dewi Lake and veteran Taulupe Faletau underscores a broader shift in selection dynamics, with Ireland and England dominating the squad.

Williams, who plays for Gloucester, and Morgan, of the Ospreys, will carry the hopes of Welsh fans on a tour that features ten fixtures, including a three-Test series against Australia. The first Test is scheduled for 19 July in Brisbane, followed by matches in Melbourne and Sydney.

Squad Composition and Leadership

The 38-man squad includes 15 players from Ireland, 13 from England, eight from Scotland, and just two from Wales. Leinster leads all clubs with 12 representatives. Itoje’s appointment as captain caps a remarkable leadership journey, having succeeded Owen Farrell as Saracens captain and then taking over the England captaincy earlier this year.

“I’m deeply honoured, humbled, and I will do my best to do the role justice,” said Itoje. His leadership will be crucial as the Lions aim to replicate their 2013 series win in Australia.

Fixtures and Tour Schedule

The Lions will begin their campaign with a warm-up match against Argentina in Dublin on 20 June before heading to Australia for nine more fixtures. The tour includes matches against Super Rugby sides and invitational teams, culminating in the three-Test series against the Wallabies.

The full Test schedule is as follows:

First Test: 19 July, Brisbane
Second Test: 26 July, Melbourne
Third Test: 2 August, Sydney

British and Irish Lions 2025 Australia Tour: Henry Pollock Selected, Owen Farrell and Sam Prendergast Omitted, Caelan Doris Injured

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